Popular Sunderland coffee shop Grinder announces move to larger premises

It was back in September 2019 that partners Michael Curtis and Riki Tsang transformed the former Ironing Basket shop, near to Royal Courts, to bring coffee culture to New Durham Road with their Grinder venture.

Little did anyone know that six months later the country would be thrown into lockdown, but once coffee shops were able to open for takeout, Grinder provided some much-needed human interaction and coffees for daily walks for many in the community.

Today, it’s retained that strong following and is part of the daily routine for commuters on the nearby University Metro station, university staff and many more.

Now, as they mark their fifth anniversary, the coffee shop is relocating to a larger, neighbouring unit in New Durham Road.

Work has already started on transforming the former Tots and Dots play cafe which is to the left of the current Grinder, on the other side of the back lane.

It will mean the eventual closure of the original site as the team moves into the new larger, accessible coffee shop and cafe.

While the original site had limited seating due to the size, the new Grinder will comfortably seat 15 and will also continue to operate for takeout as well as sit in.

The team had already teased they would be making an announcement on their social media, which Michael says has generated a lot of interest.

“A lot of people have been with us since the start and stuck with us through lockdown,” said the businessman.

“There wasn’t a lot on this street with an offering like this when we opened, and people really like that there’s free on street parking in between the permit hours.

“Word of mouth has played a big part in the business, with people recommending us to friends and family.

“When we put the teaser post on social media a lot of people have been asking if we’re expanding into the former Harvey’s unit which has also become available, but we’re actually going to the other side.”

He added: “We’d been looking to do a refurb of this place to coincide with our fifth anniversary, when the unit next door became available. It’s twice the size of this unit, is all one level and has not long been renovated.

“It has a kitchen area as well, which means we’ll be able to bring back our savoury dishes, such as sandwiches, which were popular when we had a cafe in Hills Arts Centre.

“Fiona (Grinder manager) does some of our baking and she’s looking forward to getting back in the kitchen. It’s a really exciting time for us. It will be a bit sad to leave this unit as it’s part of the history of Grinder, but the new venue marks the next chapter.”

The team is aiming to open the new Grinder site in early October with a coffee and cake offering at first, then introducing new dishes over the coming weeks.

The current Grinder will operate until then, moving to a kiosk at the front of the building as equipment is transferred over.

The news comes as the Echo’s parent company, National World, is hosting National Food and Drink Month throughout September, an initiative backed by UKHospitality, the voice of the sector.

As part of the month, we’ll be shouting even louder about the city’s hospitality venues and asking readers to share their favourites.